Piston meter



2, 1954 G. E. BATCHELDER 2,667,784

PISTON METER Filed NOV. 16, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR GEORGE E. BATCHELDER ATTORNEYS Patented Feb. 2, 1954 PISTON Geor emEl'x lineman, ,Pitts burgh, Pa assignora oompamgz- Pitts;

- eninsilvtfiiitt' Aupucatimiwvemhem 6, 1ssceserm manager sioliums; 01. 7'3""-24i7)" Thisinventioni-relates tofiuid-meters-azzd more: particularly to piston type displacement meters=- fonaccu-ratelymeasuring and. delivering; fluid-' under anextended. range otoperating conditions-t.-

Intmeters of/ this kind; which are essentially; fluid -.operated..- motors, tit'z-ha's been found n'eces sary to provide a calibrations device foradjust ing; the: meter to provide thea necessaryr; precise correlation--betweem .thenumber of. revolutions" ofiithesreg-ister element and @the quantitwoff fluid: fiowingzgthrough theimetera' Thiseca-libration-zmay be eifected :bysthemsenof 1 a relatively complicated, expensive compensated d-rive:';betweerr: 'the motor and; the :r'egisten e1e-'- ment'eor: adjustmentof the quantity; of fluid passinggthrough meter per: motor revolution;

The present invention-List primarily j concerned with improvements in the :latten typei'o'f adjust ment; aniexamplenofrwhich is: disclosed inU.= Si Patent 1,-949;006::l Sueh aacalibration unit may tale-er: the 'fomri-of a free piston: reciprocably. mounted atcylindertwhich; is in fluid com munication with the motor pistons. The calibra' ti'ompiston isfiactuatediby; the pressure'difierentiahbetween'x the-:rinlet' and: outleti sides oft-1 the: motor; and periodically: expels a calibrated-f amount of fluid: in addition .to that "discharged v byithe-zmotorapistons.

Asia-universally thei'casezin prior.adevelopmentsya the? diameter on the:calibration ipiston'i disclosed in 'IIJ S; Patent I1349,006iissrelatively;small= with: respect?toaitszithicknessw That -is thearea=-over which-them'ctuatinge, pressure is effective; is rela tively-ismal l: and theafriotional :resistaneevtomove mentiissrel'ativelydarge with 'the resultrthat difier entialfapressure:existingeunder: conditions of- 1 low flow may be insuflicientito move xthewpiston through its .1 full: strok'e zandaiwhere foreignspar tioles: are? present in itheifl-uid thei-frictiona'ls resistancei'towmovement of the calibration piston is'zoftenasuflicient .=t'o*- prevent: any: movement t of: therzpistoniv Tounovercomethisszdifficulty itthasa b'eenuthezpracticeztmmaintainra loose: fitubetween tliecalibration pistorrandnts cylinder Howeven-i the meter pistons Accordingly;.',it is :a major object of the-present thisiipermits:sanxxappreciableixamountsaofiafluid to:

lealctpaste'the 'pistontrendering th' unit totally ineife'ctive'ztor precisiontealibratio Iiiiiaccordance with the presentinventionsa calibration:pistonais' zprovidediawhicm has--a -=diameter much:11greateratlrian' rits thickness so -"that the efiectivei actuatingxfore will berappreciablya increased-land:thesopposingsfrictional iresistanee to smevementf'iwillibe minimized-.: 1 To: furlthen in creasetheeffctiveness ot'theinieterand the-ca1ibrati'on unit, the-clatter :is': arranged ?in=truefluid1* parallelisnruwith respect tof-iztheemotori pistons; That is; .tires:.calibrationsi istonarzanditheimotor pistons =aire r arranged-aim separate: fluids circuitss which are connectedzzaiternatelywtora pressure:

source and ame xhaust putlet byea common valve eend-through the. cylin 1 through passagesof: substantially;v equal-r lengtha -s This construction assures movem'entof the eal-L bration piston through its full, relatively: short, stroke at or before completionof the str "ol-:e- 10f invention toprovide a fiuid" meter which -may-'be=- calibrated:- eifectively; oven awiderange: ofop"- erating conditions andparticularly' underlow' flowand pressure conditions; i

It is ahfurthen'object toprovide a -novelcalibration unit for a piston meter,

It- .isalso an M object to provideanovel fluid: i circuit fora calibration unit It' is a more specific-object: to provide a relais" tivelwslargei calibration: piston a which -is iric0rporated in a fluid meter w ithou'tf substantialc-in crease inthesize ofthemeten It is! also an object to :provid'er-a novel' calibraw tion: unit for? a fluidmeter having ai -minimum? number of: compactly; arranged: structurally; rugged; .lowt-cost comporientsf i Itis an: additional objeetxto provide 1a novel adjusting means foraacalibi'ation -u-nit which -is readilyr acc'essi'blefand flextremelye simple) de sign-z- Additional objects and advantages wi'll 'becoine apparentsas"the=description:=proceedsiimconnec tion with nth'e: accompanyinglzdrawings in which'z' Figure-1 is a: central vertical section through-as pai-ri'onthe' p'iston cylinders showing the-mean for operativelyi connecting-whetpistonswitlr th fluid inlet and mus-t control valveand the ireg is teridrivezmechanismg Figure 2 is a horizontal sectional view*ta;kem

substantially along the line-n 2+2 of Figure- 1 showing .;the" connectingipassageways between then calibration device and one 'pairof the-" pisttm cylinders-;:.-.

Figure 3 is an endi elevationi of 'the' c device:

Figure 4 1s: a fragmentary sectional view 'of tlie calibrationunit taken alongline 4- -4 -"of Figure l a and Fign1re 6 is a similar viewi taken along-'1 line 5 5 Referrin'gain rfurther idetail to the drawingaafor the purpose of the present explanatior'ijl have shown th'e meteribodv =I fl in thewform of a die cast aluminum cylinder blockhavingrflfour'horizontally;

thereof and coaxial with the vertical centenline 5 ofithe m eter body: a: bearing-sleeve-fi E is integrally connected: withthe c'ylinden wall by': spaced-- webs 24.- The wall-of cylinder" IZ -at the lowerside' thereof-- is provideduwith a lon-gitudinallyiextend- Y ingspassage 25--opening downwardlyi at its inner der wall-and in communication at its outer end with the outer end of cylinder I2. Similar passages26, 2? and 28 are provided in the walls of cylinder I4, I6 and I6, respectively. The outer end of each of the cylinders It, I6 and I6 is closed by a pressed steel head 26 secured thereto as by cap screws 36.

In the cylinder block between the inner ends of passages 25, 25, 2'i and 28, dowel pins indicated at 32 are inserted to accurately locate a gasket 34 and a valve seat plate 36. The plate 36 is provided with four circumferentially extending slots or openings which register with the inner ends of the passages 25, 26, 21 and 28 in the walls of the respective cylinders, said plate also having a central circular opening 36 which registers with the annular space between the bearing sleeve 22 and the cylinder wall.

A bottom cover member 46 has an upwardly flaring fluid inlet passage 42 and at the lower end thereof an axially disposed upwardly opening bearing socket 44 connected with the wall of passage 42 by a plurality of radial webs 46.

The valve assembly comprises a rotary valve member 48 which is centrally formed with a hollow cylindrical portion 52) having a quadrant shapedsection 52 to register with the slot in the valve seat plate 36 and providing a fluid outlet receiving chamber 54 in constant communication with the central opening 36 in said plate and with the interior of the meter body or the cylinder block which forms a common fluid outlet reloosely mounted thereon.

scotch yoke rod II6 rigidly connects the pistons ceiving chamber 56 for the four piston cylinders.

At the upper open side of the chamber 56, valve member 48 is provided at diametrically opposite sides thereof with flanges 58 extending circumferentially from the ends of the quadrant shaped portion 52 of chamber 54 and terminating in spaced relation from each other to provide a space or recess which is substantially equal to the length of the slot in the valve seat plate 36.

The lower end wall of the cylinder portionil] of the valve member is provided with an axially centered cylindrical opening 60 in which a coupling member 62 is inserted, said member at its upper end having a head or flange 64 provided with a male coupling part 66. The lower end of member 62 is threaded and receives a nut 68 whereby said member is securely held against rotation or axial displacement relative to the valve member 48. V

The lower end face of member 62 has a concave seat for a stainless steel ball-bearing I6 disposed in the upper open end of the socket 44 upon a cap plate E2 on the upper end of a coil spring I4 which rests on the lower wall of the socket 44.

The cover member 46 is rigidly secured to the cylinder block upon a gasket 78 by suitable cap screws 66. A gasket 82 and a connecting flange 84 are secured to the lower surface of the cover plate 46 by the cap screws 86 and an internally threaded pipe coupling member 88 is received within the flange 84 and secured thereto as by a brazing 90.

Each of the cylinders I2, I4, I5 and 58 contains a reciprocating piston which comprises a piston head 92, a cup leather S4, spacing plate 96, piston skirt 98, and an annular coil spring I66 between the skirt 98 and the free edge of cup leather 94.

The diametrically opposed pair of pistons in cylinders I2 and I4 are rigidly connected by a top scotch yoke rod I62. The ends of rod I02 areformed with internal threaded bosses I64 disposed in axially centered openings in the respective piston heads 82 to receive locking screws 4 I66 which, with washers I68, secure the piston elements in assembled relation to the rod I64. Hardened wear-resistant steel inserts III] are rigidly mounted in an elongated slot in the rod I62 to receive a crank pin H2 and a roller IM A similar bottom in the cylinders I6 and I8. The crank pin II2 extends downwardly through an elongated slot II? in the rod which is provided with hardened steel inserts H8 in which a second roller I26 loosely mounted on the crank pin is received.

A valve operating shaft I22 is journalled in bushing I24 press fitted in the upper and lower ends of the sleeve 22. At its lower end, the shaft I22 is provided with a slot I26 which receives the male lug 66 on the upper end of member 52. At its upper end, the shaft I22 is non-rotatably connected by a pin I28 to one end of a crank arm I36. The lower end of crank pin H2 is nonrotatably connected to the other end or" crank arm I36 by a pin I32.

The top cover member I34 for the cylinder block is adjustably secured to the block by any suitable means such as cap screws (not shown)- and is formed with extending outlet neck I36, in communication with the chamber 56 of the meter body. The cover member I34 is formed with an axially centered depending boss I38 having a stuifing box I46 for a register drive shaft I422. The stufiing box gland I44 has a flanged end secured to the upper surface of the cover member I34 by screws I46. To the lower end of shaft I42, one end of a crank arm I48 is nonrotatably fixed by a pin I56, the other end of the crank arm being provided with an opening I52 to rotatably receive the upper end of the crank pin 2.

'In laterally spaced relation from the shaft I42, cover member I34 is formed with a vertical bore I54 into which the lower end of a stationary shaft I56 is pressed. Upon this shaft and the upper end of shaft I42, speed reduction gearing, generally indicated at I58, is mounted, the final element I59 of the'gear train being rotatable relative to shaft I42 and provided with an upwardly projecting coupling element I66 for engagement with a register shaft (not shown). The gearing is enclosedin housing member I52 which is secured in fixed relation to the cover member by nut I64 threaded upon the upper end of the stationary shaft I56.

When the cover assembly is positioned over a the chamber 56 in the cylinder block, the position of crank arm I48 is adjusted so that the upper end of the crank pin II2 will be rotatably received in the opening I52 in the arm and with the register drive shaft I42 in coaxial alignment with the valve operating shaft I22. Since shaft I42 iscenteredin the cover member, the cover may be adjusted about the shaft axis to dispose the outlet I3I5 in any desired radial position with respect to the shaft and the meter cylinders. A gasket I66 is disposed between the cylinder block and the'cover member to assure positive sealing between these components.

Referring now to the calibration unit for the meter indicated generally at I10, a cylinder head I72 and a cover plate I14 are rigidly secured to the outer end of cylinder I2 as by cap screws I16. Suitable gaskets I18 are interposed between the elements to seal the cylinder I2 and to provide a sealed chamber between the cylinde'r head I12 and cover I14.

Free communication is established between the; outer: end or. cylinder; I23; and; the: passage 25;; through; an; annularrreeessi. I 80. formed: .in; the.

inner; surface 50f; cylinderrhead: I :I 2 with, a;1ower: enlarged; portion; in-,-register-'with the. passage 25. A.culindrical,=t recess I82; in: axial; alignment with cylinder; I 2- inrcoveriplate I I4:-receives: ai tubular: bZ3SSl51iI1BI" I84; which; is. locked: inzplace by; a: rolled;edge I86; A .lightweightcalibration piston:

I d8;Mpreferaloly, of "graphite is :positioned; for: free,

reciprocation: with; a. close; fit; within. the-liner: I84 between the head I12.andbottomof the recess; I 82;v Itis ;a feature of; the. invention that the diametenof: thecpiston;v I8-8':is;relatively large. withzrespect touts-thickness; As illustrated,:.the diameter to: thickness ratio: is; approximately; 3-. 13m 1; as construction; found; in practiceto pro-. duce; very. satisfactory: operation. It; is; to, be; understood: that, requirements: of." particular installationsgmay dictateithezuseiof different ratios. However, the effectiveness: of? the. piston-for full range; operation: is; seriously: decreased by, em-v playing a diameter tozthickness. ratio of lessthan 15:11:); 1;, It; will. be. appreciated. that. a, piston ofr'this designzwill' expel.a comparatively, large volume: of; fluid when. moving; through" a; very short stroke; thus: permitting; the unit to." be ex-.-- tremely compact; The'outensurfaiceof the head I12 is; provided; with .a; central circular dished recess. Isa opposite at similar: shallowirecess'in the;adjacent spacezof thecpiston. I38 toqform an expansibl'e: chamber; I922.

As shown: in Eigures:.1,2 and 4, fluid' communication iszestablishedz. between chamber. I52

and=theirinner-end;of1passage;.2l leading to the outer: end of. cylinder I5',zthrough a-..passage I94- formed in the lower; surface of. cylinder block I2rwhichis registe withiaport I95 in head I12:-communicatingtwith:.an;extension. I98 of the recess:v I90.

As shown. in Figures 1-2 and: 5;; a: chamber 269', formed? atv thesouter cupped surface of piston I83; includes-a portion ofttherecess I82 andian arcuate recess: 21321 formerl v in the .plate; I'I4 asra reduced extension of 'avportion ofithezrecess'. I82; The: chamber ZIBGLiS in communication with the inner endl of the :passage: 28:1 connected with. the outer endzof cylinder: I8::through: a; passage12'04 in: cylinder block: I2,iporti.-2Il& inliead I12; .an elongated recess-.2 I01 in :cover 5214- anticommuniseating: passages; 212 and.2I4 in the; cover I'M;

the latter terminating in: recess: 2 02'; The lower end of: the'drilled... passage-1M4 is: closed by a threadedplug 2I6; It is; to: be. noted that the passages I 9'4. and 204 are; in effect; directly comnected with the inlet andioutlet passages formed inithe. valve 48so that theoperating pressures of the same magnitude. are. transmitted simul-: taneously to the calibration and meter istons.

The stroke of thew-piston I88'= and the'aquantity of fluid expelled from chambers I92 and 200 during the reciprocation of the piston may be adjusted'by'lateral movement of a screw 2I8 threaded intoazboss 220iin the:co.ver I'M. Leakage between the screw 2I8, and the boss 225]. is prevented by an O ring 22L. A screw 222 errtends through the boss 22flf-ontothe screw 218 to ,lock' thelatter in itsadjusted position. The outer end. of the boss 220i is.closed by a cover plate 224 attached to the boss by screws 226. Holes are provided in theheadsof the cover screws. :226 and the lockingfsorew 222 to-receive aesealeds lockwire. 22.8.: to: prevent unauthorized adjustment of the calibration unit.

The operation of the meter is as follows:

With coupling 88 connected to suitable source 6; offfiuid;under:pressureaandrpassageg I 36:; connects ed to. a..1o.w pressurezoutleta amdathezvalve" member; 48'; inx,the-zposition showniin Eigure 1i .fluidiunden' pressure will; flowthroughithee inlet; chamber: 42; through the. opening in plate 36-. andlthemassagev 25 to. the; outer. endof cylinder-Ills, The; valve; member. 18 simultaneously connects; the passage 25 leading to the outenendzoficylinder. I2t withi thercentral chambenfi ihandrthenutlzt; I 3 Since thezpistonsaimthe opposedzcylinders: ItzandJ 4 are. rigidly. connected.tomoyevas as unit,.as.;thesliquid pressure-inthe;cylinder;I 4 iforcesithe; piston-there:- in .to :the sloth the piston.inrtheccylinder;I 2; moves. correspondingly:therewitheand;;thus;;forcesrliquidi out through thepassage2.5;:the.chamber:56;.an

theoutlet I36; As; the; pistons; are: operativelp (3011136011911iwith'zfilfi; valve 48; the Wall/"6." is :rotated. in; properly. ,tiined relation with: the reciprocation of: thepistons toalternately, connect: the. pass sages.- 25; 25,21 and 2ii.-1of.the opposed cylinders with the", inlet andoutlets-ides, respectively; ,of. the-meter-in propensequence;

In theoperation ofithemeter therpassage'swlfl and 2-94 and the portions-of the-calibration-Icyline derynot occupied by) the piston andithe adjusting meansare filled with liquid; When valves-Maestablishes communication ;through the passage 121 iv between thevalve inlet: chamber and the.-meter. cylinder 4 6-,. the. cylinder. I 8: is I cohne.ctedito; the meter outletzthrough thegpassage,28;andrthe-yalve Chambl1"55. and the higher: inlettpressure; is ,effective through passage "i MI- andi the :chamberrI 92; to move th adjustment piston rapidlyinto cone tact with the. adjustmentscrevc 2 I 81 and therebydischarge liquid frointhe chamber 2.09:; through passage 2M into the-outlet chamber 55; ofthe. valve; along with the: liquid: discharged intothe outlet-from the-cylinderv IS: Whenthe-position of the-meter valve. 48 is reversed, the higher inlet pressure will. then. be. applied? to chamber 23. through the passages 28%;. thus :quickly displacing the calibration piston inthey opposite direction into contact with th -'cylinder-head' l'lz and'iexe pelling liquid-from chamber I Mthroughpassage it into the, chamber 56 0f. the :valve alongwith the liquid dischargedhy the cylinder I61 By the adjustment of the screw 2 id-gthe amountof liquid which is. discharged. through the passages I Skand ZEM'into: the meter outlet at; each strokewofzthe piston: l88rmay be:;predetermined as :desiredpathus calibratingt'the. entire meter :to; discharge; a... presdetermined volume. of liquid; pen (331C183: of; the meter:

The above. described meter is;- particu1'ar1y-.=' efe fective; in installationsg. which require accurate metering; under low flow condition. Friction losses throughout the meter/are held to .-a:mini+ mum... The calibration; piston, being; made: of graphite; isrlight: Weight and selfglubricating. The differential pressure-which; actuates. the; calilor.a-- tionpiston =isestablishedrovera .largeareazof. the piston thus; assuring: a: full strokes: of -Z the piston even: when-the relatively loW- operating pressures associated with:--. low; flow ccnditionsrares present; The: meter thus delivers the. calibrated amount of fluid under." any operating pressure:- sumo-lent; to drive the meter;

. Eurther; the-:calibrationunit ist..extrernelygconrs V pact and because .of. the novel incorporation .01

respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the ap pended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by United States Letters Patent is:

1. In a fluid meter having a cylinder block having inlet and outlet passages, a plurality of pairs of opposed meter cylinders in said block having meter pistons reciprocably received therein, and a meter piston actuated valve for connecting said cylinders sequentially to said inlet and outlet passages; a calibration device for said meter comprising; a calibration cylinder, a plate secured to said cylinder block and having recesses in its opposite faces forming the head respectively of said calibration cylinder and one of said meter cylinders, a free piston mounted for reciprocation in inlet and outlet passages when one of said pair of pistons is so connected, whereby said calibration piston will discharge a predetermined amount of fluid into said outlet passage along with the fluid discharged by said one of said meter pistons connected to said outlet passage.

2. In a piston meter having a cylinder block provided with inlet and outlet passages, pairs of opposed meter pistons reciprocably mounted in opposed meter cylinders in said cylinder block, and a piston actuated valve for connecting said cylinders sequentially to said inlet and outlet passages; a calibration device, comprising; a calibration cylinder housing in axial alignment with one of said meter cylinders and attached to said cylinder block, a plate sealingly clamped between said housing and said block having recesses in its opposite faces forming the end of the said calibration cylinder and the end of said one of said meter cylinders, a calibration piston in said calibration cylinder, the diameter of said piston being greater than its thickness, there being, a

pair of conduits in the wall of said one cylinder passages when a pair of meter pistons are so connected, said housing and said plate having passages connecting the opposite ends of said calibration cylinder to the respective conduits whereby opposite sides of said calibration piston are connected to the inlet and outlet passages simultaneously with the pair of meter pistons so that a predetermined amount of fluid will be expelled from said calibration cylinder along with each discharge of fluid from each of said last mentioned pair of meter pistons.

3. The combination of claim 2 together with means adjustably extending through said housing into said calibration cylinder for adjusting the stroke of said calibration piston.

4. In a fluid meter, a cylinder block having an inlet port and outlet chamber substantially centrally disposed therein, first and second pairs of opposed cylinders in said block, pistons reciprocably received in said cylinders, a crank shaft operatively connected to said pistons, said cylinder block having a plurality of separate fluid passages each communicating with the outer end of one of said cylinders and each adapted to permit the passage of fluid to and away from said cylinder and terminating in a valve seat, a rotary valve operably connected with said crank shaft to connect said fluid passages alternately with said inlet port and said outlet chamber, a'calibration unit comprising a housing rigidly attached to one of said first pair of cylinders, said housing having a cylindrical recess in longitudinal alignment with said one of said cylinders, a calibration piston reciprocably received in said recess, said piston having a diameter greater than its thickness and stroke, a plate clamped between said one of said cylinders and said housing to close the cylinder and said recess, the wall of said one of said cylinders having a pair of conduits therein communicating at their inner ends with the inner ends of the pair of passages communicating with said second pair of opposed cylinders, said housing and said plate having passages connecting opposite sides of said calibration piston with the respective conduits whereby said calibration piston is actuated by the pressure differential in said conduit and discharges a predetermined quantity of fluid into said outlet chamber with each discharge of fluid from each of the associated pair of fluid passages.

5. In a fluid meter having a first and second pair of opposed cylinders, pistons mounted in said cylinders, a plurality of separate fluid conduits each communicating with the outer end of one of said cylinders and each adapted to permit the passage of fluid to and away from said cylinders, and means for sequentially connecting said cylinders through said conduits alternately with a source of fluid under pressure and exhaust, a calibration unit comprising; a housing rigidly attached to one of said first pair of cylinders and forming a continuation thereof, said housing having a cylindrical recess, a calibration piston received in said recess, said piston having a diame ter greater than its thickness, a plate clamped between said housing and the adjacent cylinder, said plate having opposed recesses forming a continuation of said recess in said housing and said adjacent cylinder, there being a air of fluid passages formed in the wall of said adjacent cylinder terminating at their inner ends in said separate fluid conduits connected with said second pair of cylinders, said plate and said housing having registering passages connecting one of said passages in said cylinder wall with one side of said piston and connecting the other of said passages in said wall with the other side of said piston whereby said calibration piston will be actuated by the pressure differential between the said passages in cylinder wall to discharge the predetermined quantity of fluid to exhaust with each discharge of fluid from each of said second pair of meter cylinders.

GEORGE E. BATCHELDER.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Great Britain June 11, 1937 

